Toronto Maple Leafs lose Randy Carlyle's first home game.

Steve Russell - Staff Photographer - @RussellPhotos

As a photographer covering a sporting event nothing beats covering a team the first few games after a coaching change. It seems that all the players are putting it on the line. The game seems faster and more physical. Almost a taste of play-off intensity.

The Leafs first home game with Randy Carlyle on the bench was no different.

Loads of hitting and three scraps. I think in the last 10 games I've covered there might have been three fights.

Besides a rolling out a new coach, other types of games that generate that same kind of feel are a big trade, coming off an embarassing loss and of course a team with an arch-nemisis type player (think Alfredsson)

Every pre-game, Tyler Bozak knocks over the pryamid of pucks in the warm-up as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Boston Bruins at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. 

New coach Randy Carlyle watches the warm-up.

Phil Kessel tosses the fans a souvineer in the warm-up.

Tyler Bozak stretches in the warm-up.

Carl Gunnarsson celebrates his goal in first period action.

Boston Bruins right wing Shawn Thornton (22) checks Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Colby Armstrong (9) in first period action.

A symptom of new coach syndrome - Nikolai Kulemin checks Greg Zanon in first period action.

Later, Nikolai Kulemin is checked by Dennis Seidenberg.

Jay Rosehill checks Zdeno Chara in first period action.

Boston Bruins right wing Jordan Caron (38) runs into Jonas Gustavsson, the play lead to a goal in second period action.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson makes a stop.

Boston Bruins right winger Shawn Thornton has his nose moved by Jay Rosehill.

Colby Armstrong and Dennis Seidenberg fight in second period action.

Zdeno Chara celebrates a second  period goal he assisted on.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson reacts after giving up the fourth goal of the game.

Tim Connolly takes down Brad Marchand in a scrap at the end of the second period.

Mikhail Grabovski, centre, who signed a five-year 27 million dollar contract extension earlier in the game, celebrates his goal with Clarke MacArthur and Jake Gardiner in third period action.

John-Michael Liles submarines Milan Lucic in third period action.

Comments

[Darren]

Wow great pictures, especially the Rosehill fight.

[yash]

The loss was horrible but photography is excellent

[ali]

These photographs are stunning. From the detailed shots of the warm up to the close ups of the fights; it feels like you are watching the game. Every aspect of a great hockey game is represented in these photos.

[Mary Johnson]

This is totally awesome pictures!

[Jenny Wilson]

This are High Quality photos, i miss the good old hockey game.